radio / Straight Talk Africa [simulcast]

Join veteran journalist Shaka Ssali on Straight Talk Africa every Wednesday as he and his guests discuss topics of special interest to Africans, including politics, economic development, press freedom, health, social issues and conflict resolution.

Upcoming program

Wednesday August 05, 2015

Join veteran journalist Shaka Ssali on Straight Talk Africa every Wednesday as he and his guests discuss topics of special interest to Africans, including politics, economic development, press freedom, health, social issues and conflict resolution.

Podcast

August 2013

Straight Talk Africa(simulcast)

Join veteran journalist Shaka Ssali as he and his guests discuss topics of special interest to Africans, including politics, economic development, press freedom, health, social issues and conflict resolution. and the Internet at www.VOAafrica.com.

Straight Talk Africa(simulcast)

Join veteran journalist Shaka Ssali as he and his guests discuss topics of special interest to Africans, including politics, economic development, press freedom, health, social issues and conflict resolution. and the Internet at www.VOAafrica.com.

Straight Talk Africa(simulcast)

Join veteran journalist Shaka Ssali as he and his guests discuss topics of special interest to Africans, including politics, economic development, press freedom, health, social issues and conflict resolution. and the Internet at www.VOAafrica.com.

Straight Talk Africa(simulcast)

Join veteran journalist Shaka Ssali as he and his guests discuss topics of special interest to Africans, including politics, economic development, press freedom, health, social issues and conflict resolution. and the Internet at www.VOAafrica.com.

August 2013

Discussion Program on African Issues

Join us every Wednesday for Straight Talk Africa - an international call-in talk show hosted by Shaka Ssali. Shaka and his guests discuss topics of special interest to Africans, including politics, economic development, press freedom, health, social issues and conflict resolution.

Broadcast Schedule

Straight Talk Africa is broadcast live every Wednesday from 1830-1930 UTC/GMT simultaneously on radio, television and the Internet.

Join the Discussion

On our Wednesday, July 29, 2015 Program:

"Presidential Term Limits in Africa"

According to a report by Afrobarometer, a non-partisan pan-African research organization, a majority of Africans says they favor presidential term limits despite an alarming trend that a number of African leaders are bending the rules and amending constitutions to stay in power. Rwandan lawmakers earlier this month approved a measure that would pave the way for President Paul Kagame to seek re-election when his second term ends in 2017. In neighboring Burundi, President Pierre Nkurunziza's recently won his bid for a controversial third term. Burundi's constitution, like Rwanda's, has a two-term limit for presidents. But Burundi's constitutional court, however, ruled Mr. Nkurunziza eligible to seek re-election because he was first elected by parliament, not voters, in 2005. Meanwhile, elections are also looming in several other African nations whose presidents have already served two or more terms. These include Gambia, Djibouti, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo, all of which have no term limits.

Join us for this live one-hour television and radio call-in simulcast when host Shaka Ssali and his guests discuss the reluctance of some African leaders to relinquish power when their terms are nearing an end.

In the competitive and changing television industry, nothing is more valuable for job-seekers than "real world" experience. The Straight Talk Africa internship program offers motivated and outstanding students exciting opportunities to experience practical journalism. In addition to helping to get our weekly studio programs on-the-air, interns also produce a final project for their portfolios. Projects include writing and producing promos, stories, and even full-length documentary or magazine shows.

Calendar

A Straight Talk Africa Special

About the Host

Shaka, a Ugandan-born American journalist, holds a doctorate in cross-cultural communication and history from UCLA in California. He is a former Ford Foundation Fellow and has received numerous honors, including a United Nations Peacekeeping Special Achievement Award in International Journalism. Other awards include VOA's Best Journalist Award and Kigezi College Butobere's first ever Highest Achievement Award in International Human Communication. Butobere is located in Kabale, southwestern Uganda, and is Shaka’s alma mater.

During his career, Shaka has interviewed and hosted many presidents and prime ministers. Among them: General Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Nigeria; Levy Patrick Mwanawasa; Former President, Zambia; Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister, United Kingdom; Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama; Ghana President John Evans Atta Mills; Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President, Liberia; Hifikepunye Pohamba, President, Namibia; Uganda President Yoweri Museveni; Joseph Kabila, President, DRC; Rwanda President Paul Kagame; and General Salva Kiir, First Vice President, and president of the government of Southern Sudan.